Spare tire woes

[Mang213]

I know all about it
Had to use my spare last week and it took me 45 minutes to get the damn thing down to even mount it. What worked for me was yanking out the plastic tube assembly that runs from the bumper to the winch crank. Mine did the exact same thing as yours. It cranked down an inch or so and then made that clicking sound like it was stripped out. When I removed the tube, I had a clear sightline and was able to access the crank a more easily. Just my but you may have a different problem.

[Lincolnman]

Yep, I wound out unbolting it, beating on it for a couple of days, sliding it off sideways so that it was hanging by the tube that guides the tool into place, then I had to grind off the pin that goes through the tube, followed by pulling the tube through the frame the wrong way (flared end through the frame) and then finally I realized that the stupid thing is non-serviceable (not to mention still stuck on the rim) and I had to cut the cable anyway.
The crank was totally ruined, because I tried to crank it with a wrench after removal and it still clicked uselessly.
What a terrible design - it reminds me of why I was a Ford man first.
If GM had not at least got the (GEN III+) small block right I still would be wholeheartedly. Now I just pick what I like about each.
Thanks for the help.